Vietnam will present the periodical report on the human rights situation in Vietnam to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, today, May 8. This is the first time the country has presented its national report on human rights to the UN.

Vietnam sees humans as the stimulus for development.

The 20-page report, compiled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies, outlines the protection, implementation and promotion of human rights in Vietnam in the last two years.

The report covers the comprehensive enforcement of human rights in Vietnam, from civil rights to political rights, economic, social and cultural rights and emphasises Vietnam’s priorities in protecting and taking care of women, children, ethnic minority people, and disabled people.

One of the major messages in the report is that the Vietnamese state always considers humans as the goal and the driving force of development. This is the significant factor to bring into play the participation of the people in all fields.

“The Vietnamese government commits to continue its cooperation with other countries, with the United Nations and United Nations’ agencies to ensure the benefits of rights and basic freedoms of humans in the territory of Vietnam and in the world,” the report says.

The report also emphasises: “As the victim of many wars – the biggest violation of human rights – Vietnam clearly understands more than anyone else the popularity of human rights, which shows the common aspiration of mankind, and is noted in the World Declaration on Human Rights and the UN Charter, and the specific nature of human rights in each society and community.

“The Vietnamese government believes that the implementation of human rights is always connected closely with history, tradition and the socio-economic development of the country. Therefore, in a world which has become more diversified, it is necessary to harmoniously combine standards and common principles of international laws with specific conditions in terms of history, politics, economic-social, cultural values, religion, beliefs, manners and customs of each country and region when approaching and dealing with human rights.”

Attending the UN Human Rights Council’s session will be representatives of member countries and international non-governmental organisations.

After Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh presents the report, attendants will question Vietnam. VietNamNet will report this event.

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